Could someone help me determine a good langauge to learn?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around selecting a programming language to learn, specifically for the purpose of modifying an auto-scanner for a car, as well as potential applications in web development and app creation. Participants explore the feasibility of such modifications and the necessary prerequisites for programming in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a desire to learn programming to modify an auto-scanner for their car and seeks advice on the feasibility of this task.
  • Another participant suggests that modifying the scanner could be difficult without access to the source code, detailed specifications, and the ability to rewrite the car's diagnostic system.
  • A different participant mentions that if the specifications for the interface are available, languages like Java or Visual Basic could be suitable, but warns that reverse engineering may be necessary.
  • One contributor advises starting with a language that has similar programming concepts, recommending C# or Java, while noting that C/C++ may be necessary for more advanced tasks in embedded systems.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of the instructor in learning programming effectively.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility of modifying the auto-scanner, with some suggesting it is a complex task while others propose potential programming languages that could be used. There is no consensus on the best approach or language to start with.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the need for specific technical information and the challenges of reverse engineering, indicating that the discussion is contingent on various assumptions about access to resources and prior knowledge.

philtered
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The main purpose I want to learn to program is so I can work with and modify the auto-scanner (code reader) for my car. it would also great to be able to increase the range of modifications you could make with the scanner.

This is the cable/system currently that I have in mind:

http://www.ross-tech.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=VCKII&Category_Code=VAGCOM"

Maybe someone could even tell me if that's possible.



Other areas of use would be web development and maybe some simple apps.
 
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philtered said:
The main purpose I want to learn to program is so I can work with and modify the auto-scanner (code reader) for my car.

That sounds pretty difficult, unless you have:
1) The source code for the scanner software
2) Extremely detailed specs on the format of the data stored and transmitted by the car's diagnostic system
3) The ability to re-write your car's diagnostic system, including information on how the individual systems' stats are gathered

If you've got the source code, that's a reasonably possible undertaking, assuming you get very familiar with it. Otherwise, this seems ludicrously difficult as a do-it-yourself project.

DaveE
 
IF you can get the specs for the interface to that plug-in device, most any PC side programming language would do -- say Java or Visual Basic. However I doubt that the manufacturer would be interested in telling you how their product actually works, so you would have to reverse engineer the whole system. That's a lot of hacking for a neophyte -- but a great learning experience presuming that you have no life whatsoever.

It's also likely that the device gives you access to just about everything you can do to the car on the other end already, so you might not gain much control.
 
Thanks for the responses guys, its probably best that I do some more research and see what I can find and if its worth the time investment
 
At first, you have to know the concept of programming. All programming languages has similar concepts such as arrays, functions/methods, etc. Try to pick an easy language and semi-powerful language to learn from. I would say go with C# or Java... Once you get it, feel free to move to the language that suits your later future goal. OOP is the way to go ... If you want to get into coding computational, hardware, embedded systems and such things, you eventually will have to learn C/C++ ... I don't recommend you starting with C/C++ ... NOTE: instructor also plays big role in helping you understanding programming
 

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